1. Heavenly Joy
World Scripture
Thou dost show me the path of life; in Thy presence there is fullness of joy, in Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.
Psalm 16.11
I created you human beings because I desired to see you lead a joyous life.
Ofudesaki 14.25 (Tenrikyo)
Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it.
Science and Health, 57 (Christian Science)
No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him.
1 Corinthians 2.9
No person knows what delights of the eye are kept hidden for them—as a reward for their good deeds.
Qur’an 32.17
I am the Tathagata, The Most Honored among men; I appear in the world Like unto a great cloud, To pour enrichment on all Parched living beings, To free them from their misery To attain the joy of peace, Joy of the present world, And joy of Nirvana.
Lotus Sutra 5 (Buddhism)
The soul which is free from the defect of karma gets to the highest point of the universe, knows all and perceives all, and obtains the transcendental bliss everlasting.
Kundakunda, Pancastikaya 170 (Jainism)
Without doubt, in the remembrance of God do hearts find satisfaction.
Qur’an 13.28
Mother mine! Bliss have I attained in union with the Divine Master: Spontaneously has union with the Divine Master come about— In my mind resounds joyous music. Fairies of the family of jewel harmony have descended to sing holy songs; Sing all ye the Lord’s song, who have lodged it in heart! Says Nanak, Bliss have I attained on union with the Divine Master.
Adi Granth, Ramkali, Anandu, M.3, p. 917 (Sikhism)
And may the sovereign Good be ours! According as one desires bliss may one receive bliss Through Thy most far-seeing Spirit, O Lord, The wonders of the Good Mind which Thou wilt give as righteousness, With the joy of long life all the days!
Avesta, Yasna 43.2 (Zoroastrianism)
Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
Joy begins in the heart of God, and it is fulfilled in human beings. The heart of the invisible God is manifested in the hearts of visible human beings.
(27:29, November 15, 1969)
Why are human beings born? It is to experience love with God and with all creation. Conversely, because human beings exist, God can love and be loved, and love can fill the universe.
(81:334, December 29, 1975)
What is God’s purpose of creation? Is it analogous to what we human beings aspire? God created out of the desire to rejoice and be happy. What brings God joy? Money? His creatures? Certainly it is not the material things that people like to own. God created heaven and earth so that He could experience joy through love. Then, what do all creatures desire more than anything else? Because God’s purpose of creation is to experience joy through love, all creatures likewise seek a relationship of love with God, to experience joy. Accordingly, all creatures interact with one another in order to be linked with God’s love.
(114:63, May 16, 1981)
The meeting point of the human heart and God’s heart is the starting point of happiness.
(Way of God’s Will 1.8)
When people feel good, they want to be with their parents, siblings, and relatives so they can share their joy. Happiness is eternal, and what is eternal is of the heart. The center of the universe is the parent-child relationship, that is, between God the Father and each one of us as His sons and daughters. The ultimate purpose of human life is to find our Father, form an unbreakable bond with Him, and experience joy.
(12:104, December 16, 1962)
When God sees you loving His creatures, He says, “Wonderful! You are doing something that I cannot do”; and He loves you. God will want to show His love to you. Maybe He will stretch out His arms and hug you from behind, whispering, “Yes, you are great!” This happens. God will hug you out of joy. Suppose that while God is embracing you from behind, you turn around and hug Him. Would God say, “You shouldn’t do that”? What do you think? What if you give God a long, long bear hug? God would say, “It’s good! I like it! I like it!” God cannot but like it. He and everyone, everything, will like it. You would be in ecstasy. After that experience, what if you just lie around aimlessly, smitten with love-sickness? Would God be displeased? No, He would burst into laughter, saying, “Ah, My love must be really good! Ha, Ha, Ha!” Then He would say, “Amen.”… What might happen the next time you meet God? God is as smitten with you as you are with Him, so you can do anything together; it doesn’t matter. You and God might hug each other, or ride around on each other’s back, or wrestle on the floor one on top of the other. If you took God out somewhere, He might attach Himself to your hip like a tail. Wouldn’t that be the ultimate state of bliss? God, humanity and all things of creation want to experience it.
(111:170, February 15, 1981)